Railway switch operating apparatus



Oct. 16, 1934. w. c. M WHIRTER 1,976,828

RAlLWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 4, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 TOR willz'amCf/ gg/ lxmer 9 BY MW 16 HIS ATTORNEY Patented Get. 16, 1934 wire stares rarest cert RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS weasel o. Mctl hirter, wakiesserg, Fa assignor to The Union Switch 85 Signal Company, Swrssvale, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 4, 1933, Serial No. 650,085

23 Claims. (01. 246-291) My invention relates to railway switch operating apparatus, and particularly to manually controlled switch operating apparatus for switches of the type which are designed to be trailed. r r

One object of my invention is to provide novel means whereby a switch of the type described may be positively locked in its normal position for facing point moves over the switch but will become automatically unlocked when a train trails the switch.

I will describe one form of apparatus embodymy invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a top han view showin a railway switch provided with one form of switch operating mechanism embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view partly in section and partly in elevation of 20 the operating mechanism shown in Fig. i. Fig.

3 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line III-41E of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line IV-IV of Fig. 2,

with some of the parts broken away and others left in elevation to better illustrate the construction. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line VV of Fig. 4, and showing the parts in their normal positions. Fig. 6 is a view simlar to Fig. 5, but showing the parts in the positions which they occupy when the switch is moved to its reverse position by the hand lever '27. Fig. 'l is a view similar to Figs. 5 and 6, but showing the parts in the positions which they occupy when the switch points are forced from their normal positions to their extreme reverse positions by a train trailing the switch. Fig. 8 is a detail View of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2.

Similar reference characters refer to similar 41) parts in each of the several views.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the reference character A designates a railway switch comprising, as usual, two fixed rails l and l and two movable rails 2 and 2 The fixed rails 1 and 1 re laid on tie plates 3 and are secured to crossties 4 in the usual manner. The movable rails 2 and 2 are fastened together by a front rod 5, a head rod 6, a bridle rod 7 and a tie rod 8, and may be moved into a normal or re- 59 verse position by means of an operating rod 9 which is connected with the head rod 6 through the medium of the usual switch basket 10. When th switch occupies its normal position in which it is shown in Fig. l, the movable rail 2 engages the fixed rail 1, and the movable rail 2 is spaced a slight distance from the fixed rail i When the switch isrcversed, however, the

movable rail 2 then engages the fixed rail 1 ating mechanism B comprising a box or casing 11 provided with two removable cover plates 13 and 14, and secured at its lower end to one end of a bed plate 15 which is bolted or spiked to the ties 4 adjacent the outer side of the rail 1. The usual rotatable spindle or switch actuating shaft 15 extends downwardly through the casing 11, and carries at its lower end an adjustable crank 17 which is pivotally connected with the previously described operating rod 9, the parts being so proportioned that rotation of the shaft 15 through an angle of approximately 90 will move the switch between its normal and reverse positions.

The lower portion of the shaft 16, that is, the portion within the casing 11, is made round and is journalled in a bearing 18 provided in the bottom of the casing 11, and in a star block 19, which in turn, is journalled in. a bearing 20 30 formed in the top of the casing 11. The portion of the shaft 16 above the top of the star block bearing, however, is made square and has a somewhat smaller cross-sectional area than the lower portion of the shaft. 5

Secured to the square portion of the shaft 16 -is a square sleeve 21, and slidably mounted on this sleeve is an outer sleeve 22 which is provided with a square opening to receive the inner sleeve so that both sleeves and the shaft are 'constrained to rotate together.

When the outer sleeve 22 occupies its lowermost position on the inner sleeve, in which position it is shown in the drawings, a squared portion 23 formed on the lower end of the outer sleeve enters a squared recess or socket 24 formed in the upper end of the star block 19, and under these conditions, the outer sleeve, and hence the shaft 16, is connected with the star block, so that any rotation of the shaft will cause corresponding rotation of the star block. When, however, the outer sleeve 22 is moved to an upper position on the inner sleeve, the squared portion 23 on the lower end of the outer sleeve becomes disengaged from the socket 24 in the star block, and the two sleeves and the shaft are then free to rotate as a unit independently of the star block.

' The'outer sleeve 22 is ar anged to be moved between its two extreme positions by means of 9 bottom of the casing 11.

a hand lever 27 which also serves as a means for rotating the switch actuating shaft 16 between its two extreme positions. This lever is bifurcated at one end, and the bifurcations thereof are disposed on opposite sides of a squared portion formed at the upper end of the outer sleeve, and are pivoted at their free ends on a pin 28 mounted in a lug 29 formed on the inner sleeve 21. Each bifurcation extends between a pair of lugs 30 which are secured to the associated side of the outer sleeve 22, only one pair of lugs being visible in the drawings. The parts are so proportioned that when the lever 27 is rotated about the pin 28 to the depending position in which it is shown in the drawings, the outer sleeve 22 will be moved to its lowermost position on the inner sleeve, but that, when the lever is rotated about the pin 28 to a substantially horizontal position, the outer sleeve will then be moved to its upper position on the inner sleeve. t follows that the switch actuating shaft 15 will be connected with, or disconnected from, the star loci; 19 according as the lever 27 occupies its depending or its horizontal position, and that, when the lever occupies its horizontal position, the shaft 16 may be rotated between its two extreme positions to move the switch points to their corresponding extreme positions by rotating the lever about the axis of the shaft without causing rotation of the star block.

When the hand lever 27 occupies its depending position, which position is its normal position, it may be locked in this position by placa padlock 51 or other suitable locking device through a hole 52 formed in the outer end of a lug 52 which is fastened to the outer sleeve 22, and which passes through a suitable slot 53 in the lever 27.

A suitable signal, here shown as a pair of vanes 31, positioned 90 with respect to each other in plan view, is fastened to the upper end of the switch actuating shaft 16, and serves to accurately indicate at all times the position of the switch.

The star block 19' is constantly biased to the position in which it is shown in the drawings by means of two biasing devices 32 and 33 which are disposed on opposite sides of the star block as best seen in Fig. 3. These biasing devices are similar, and a description of one will therefore suffice for both. Referring particularly to the biasing device 32, this biasing device comprises a rod or bolt 34 supported at one end in a wall of the casing 11, and at the other end in an upright support 35 provided on the Two sleeves 36 and 37 provided with annular flanges 36 and 37 respectively, are slidably mounted on, the bolt 34 with their flanges 36 and 3'7 facing each other, and positioned on the bolt between these sleeves is a coil spring 38 which biases these sleeves to the positioin in which the outer end of the sleeve 36 engages one of a pair of thrust washers 39 interposed between the sleeve and the side of the casing 11, and in which the outer end of the sleeve 37 engages one of a pair of thrust washers 40 interposed between this sleeve and the support 35. Surrounding the sleeves 36 and 3'] and the spring 38 is a third sleeve 41 having a flange 42 at one end which engages the outer side of the flange 37 of the sleeve 37, and a removable flange 43 at the other end which engages the outer side of the flange t6 of the sleeve 36. An upwardly projecting lug 44 is secured to the sleeve 41 as shown in Fig. 3.

The lug 44 on the sleeve 41 of the biasing device 32 extends upwardly between two rollers 45 and 46 which are journalled between suitable spaced lugs formed on the star block 19, and the lug 44 on the sleeve 41 of the biasing device 33 similarly extends upwardly between two rollers 49 and 50 which are also journalled between the lugs on the star block, the four rollers 45,

, 46, 49 and 50 being disposed at the four corners of a rectangle. The lugs 44 are adapted to slide along ribs 44 cast on the side of casing 11.

With the biasing devices constructed and connected with the star block in the manner just described,- it will be apparent that rotation of the star block 19 in either direction from the position shown will cause the lugs 44 on the outer sleeves of the two biasing devices 32 and 33 to rotate in opposite directions, thus coinpressing the springs within the biasing devices. It follows, that when the star block has been rotated away from the position shown, as soon as the force which caused the rotation of the star block is removed, the springs will act to restore thestar block to the position shown.

For reasons which will become apparent as the description proceeds, it is desirable to prevent the biasing devices from returning the star block to the position shown at too rapid a rate after the star block has been moved away from this position, without interfering with the rotation of the star block away from the position shown. For this purpose, the star block is pivotally connected with the piston rod of a dash pot or M buffing device 56, the cylinder 57 of which is pivotally attached to the right-hand wall of the casing 11 by means of a pin 58 and a lug 59. The buffing device 56 forms no part of my pres ent invention, and may be of any suitable type which will allow free and unrestricted movement of the piston rod out of the cylinder, but

which willretard movement of the piston rod into the cylinder. As here shown, this bufing device is similar in all respects to the bufllng device shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,813,803, granted to me on November 10, 1931, for Railway switch operating apparatus, and it is believed to be unnecessary therefore to describe it in detail here.

Reciprocably mounted in the bottom of the casing his a locking device 60 which, in the particular embodiment of my invention here 11- lustrated, comprises two spaced end members 50 and 60 (see Fig. 3) connected together by means of a pair of stud bolts 60 and 60 The left-hand end member 60 is provided on one side with an integral rectangular locking plunger 60 and on the other side with two spaced integral lugs 60, while the right-hand end member 60' is provided with a centrally located hole The locking plunger 60 is mounted to slide in a guideway 61 formed on the bottom of the casing 11, and is adapted to cooperate with a lock. rod L which is slidably mounted in the casing 11 at right angles to the locking plunger. The lock rod L is of standard construction, and

comprises two longitudinally adjustable bars 63 and 64 attached at one end to the front rod 5 of the switch A and provided with two registering notches 65 so disposed that these notches will align with the locking plunger 60 when and only when the switch occupies its normal ex- 159 treme position in which it is shown in the drawings.

The locking device is arranged to be moved, in a manner which will be described hereinafter, between a left-hand extreme position in which the locking plunger 60 is within the notches in the lock rod L, and a right-hand extreme position in which the locking plunger 60 is withrawn from the notches 65, and it will be apparent that when the locking device moved to the position in which the locking plunge is within the notches, the switch will be positively locked in its normal extreme position, but that when the locking device is moved to the position in which the locking plunger is withdrawn from the notches in the lock rod, the switch will then be unlocked.

The locking device 60 is normally moved between its two extreme positions by means of a bell cranlr lever 66 which is pivoted on a pin 67 mounted in a pair of spaced lugs 68 project'- ing from the side of the casing 11. The one arm 68 of the lever 66 extends downwardly and carries at its lower end a transverse pin 69 which is secured at its central portion to the arm 66 The ends of the pin 69 are flattened and are slidably mounted in vertical slots F0 formed in the previously described lugs 6i) on the end member 66 of the locking device 66, thus operatively connecting the bell crank lever with the locking device.

The other arm 66 of the lever '66 extends toward the right and is operatively connected at outer end with a vertical connecting rod 70. As here shown, the means for connecting the 66 with the connecting rod 70 comprises a headed pin or rivet 71 (see Fig. 8) which extends through a suitable clearance hole in the arm 66 and through relatively long vertical slots 72 provided in bifurcations 73 formed on the lower end of the connecting rod '70, as well as t rough clearance holes in a spring saddle 7awhich is mounted to slide on the lower end of the connecting rod.

A coil spring 75 surrounds the connecting rod 79 between the spring saddle 74 and an annular shoulder 76 formed on the connecting rod, and the connecting rod and the bell crank 86 to the relative positions in which the pin 71 engages the slots 72 in the bifurcations 73 at the lower ends of the slots.

Above the shoulder 75 the connecting rod is as shown in Fig. 5, and this square portion extends upwardly with a sliding fit through a rectangular guideway 77 formed in the top of the casing ll, and secured at its upper end to a ro"*ed jaw '8. This forked jaw straddles the slidng sleeve with some clearance, and cooperates in a manner which will be described hereina ter, with an annular flange 80 which is ovaoly secured to the sleeve. 22 below the is Red jaw, and with a tubular member 81 whic is mounted on the sleeve above the forked jaw. rusto-conical hood 83 formed on the lower or a two piece collar 82 which is bolted to sliding sleeve 22 directly above the tubular 81, completely encloses the tubular flange 50, and provided on the inner side of this hood is an annular rib 84 which cooperates with three spaced radial lugs 85, 86 and 87 formed on the tubular member 81, to hold the tubular member a predetermined longitudinal position on the sliding sleeve 22. The tubular member 81, however, is free to rotate both with refor the plunger spect to the sliding sleeve and to the hood 83,

but is constantly biased, by means of a torsion spring 88, to the position in which the lug 85, which is somewhat h her than the other lugs 86 and 87 engages, its upper end, a depending stop 89 provided on the hood 83. The torsion spring 88 is posed within an annular recess in the collar o2, i operatively connected at one end to the and at the other end to the tubular member 81.

i orined on the upper side the forked jaw ,78 is an upstanding arcuate projcc on 90 which when the 3 ch occupies position but its extreme reerse position, and the sliding sleeve 22 in its most position, cooperates with the underside oi the lug 35 on the tubular member 81 to h d the jaw 78 and connecting rod 79 in their lowermost positions in which they are shown in the drawings, but which, when the switch reversed and the sliding sleeve 22 occu its lowermost position, is adapted to enter the space between the lugs 65 and 87 on the tubular er 81, in and a purpose to be desc he raised projec- The purpose 1 raised projection 9:)

between the lugs 85 and orced to their X- from in; the spa" 3? the swim: i

a reverse a train trailing the swtch, as will be explained more fully hereinafter. It that the right-hand edge of dog Sl, wed in 5 and 6, is flush with the associated edge of the raised projection 36.

The locking device in addition to being operatively connected with the sliding sleeve 22 in i manner just ascribed, is also operatively nes ed wit previously described tie rod 8 A" here shown, er bolt 94 which or i through the hole the the locking device 60, and the head of which bolt coope tes with'the left-hand side of the end 60 .1 e t invaded right-hand end member 69 of means or" a turnbuckle (see l) with one end of a 58, the onoosite end of which link is pivotally conn cted th the long 97 of a bell crank lever 97. The bell crank lever 97 is pivotally supported in a cra stand 98, and has its short arm 97* pivotally connected with one end of an operating rod 99. The other end of the operating rod 39 is connected with the previously described tie rod 8 by means of a standard switch basket rec.

The tie rod 8 may be located at any suitable location, but will be pref :ably located approximately halfway between the heel and the point of the switch. The base 101 of the crank stand 98 is secured both to a plate 102 and to the For reasons which will be made clear presentwith bearing surface above the upper clearance $4 is adjustably connected by ly, the extreme position to which the locking plunger 6O is movable within the notches in the lock rod L is beyond the normal locking position in which it is shown in the drawings, and the linkage connecting the locking device with the tie rod 8 is so adjusted that when the switch occupies its normal extreme position, the head of the plunger bolt 94 will engage the end member 60 when the locking plunger has been moved to its locking position and will prevent the looking plunger from moving beyond its looking position.

T re locking device 60 cooperates with the usual switch circuit controller C in such manner that a contact 103-1942 will be closed when the locking plunger occupies its normal locking position, but will ecome opened if the locking plunger is moved away from this position in either direction. The structure and operation of the circuit controller C forms no part of my present invention, and need not therefore be described here. The contact 103104 may be used to control signals governing trafific over the switch, in a well known manner.

The operation of the apparatus as a' whole is as follows: As shown in the drawings, the switch points are in their normal extreme position, and the hand lever 2'7 is locked in its depending position by means of the padlock 51. Under these conditions, the sliding sleeve 22 is held in its lowermost position on the inner sleeve 21, so that the switch actuating shaft 16 is co ected with the star block 19, and the biasing devices 32 and 33 are therefore effective to hold the switch points in their normal extreme position. Furthermore, under these conditions, the operating rod '18 is held in its lowermost position in which it-is shown in the drawings by means of the collar $2, hood 83, tubular member 31, lug 85 on the tubular member 81, raised projection 93 on forked jaw '78 and forked jaw 78, and the parts are so proportioned that when the operating rod is in its lowermost position, spring '75 wiil become compressed and will exert a force which acts through the medium of the spring saddle M and bell crank lever 66, to move the locking device to its normal locking position which it is shown in the drawings, and in which it is stopped by the head of the plunger bolt 9e. As was previously pointed out, when the locking device occupies its locking position, the switch points are positively locked in their normal position, and the contact 103-404 of circuit controller C is closed.

I will now assume that it is desired to reverse the switch A. To do this, the padlock 51 is removed from the hole 52 in the lug 52 to unlock the hand lever 27, and the hand lever is then raised to its horizontal position. This preliminary movement of the hand lever raises the sliding sleeve 22to its uppermost position on the inner sleeve 21, and as was previously pointed out, when the sliding sleeve is moved to its uppermost position, the squared portion 23 on the lower end of this sleeve becomes disengaged from the socket 24 in the upper end of the star block 19, thus disconnecting the star block from the switch actuating shaft 1 Furthermore, when the sliding sleeve 22 is moved to its uppermost position, the annular flange cooperates with the forked jaw 78 to move the connecting rod '70 to its uppermost position, and this movement oi the connecting rod '70, in turn acts through the crank 66 to move the locking device 60 from its locking position in which t is shown in the drawings, to its extreme righthand position in which the locking plunger 60 is completely withdrawn from the notches 65 in the lock rod L, thus unlocking the switch, and at the same time actuating circuit controller C to open contact 103-104. The hand lever 27 is next rotated, in the raised position which it then occupies, through an angle of approximately 90 in a counter clockwise direction. This intermediate movement of the hand lever rotates the switch actuating shaft 16 to the extreme position opposite to that in which it is shown in the drawings, thus reversing the switch points in the manner previously described. It will be apparent that during the rotation of the switch actuating shaft to its opposite extreme position, the forked jaw '78 will remain stationary, but that the two sleeves 22 and 21, the collar 82, hood 83, and tubular member 81 will all rotate with the shaft, the rotation of the tubular member 81 being caused by the engagement of the depending lug 89 on the hood 83 with the lug 85 on the tubular member. A" a result, when the switch actuating shaft reaches its opposite extreme position, the tubular member 81 will then occupy the position in wh'ch the space between the lugs 85 and 87 on member aligns with the upstanding projection 90 on the forked jaw '78. It should be pointed out that as the tubular member 81 is rotated in response to the rotation of the shaft 16 under these conditions, the lug 85 will move past the cam dog 91 but will not engage the cam dog because the annular flange 80 will then be in engagement with the forked jaw '78, and the parts are so proportioned that when the annular flange 89 is engaging the forked jaw, there will be some clearance between the top of the cam dog 91 and the bottom of the lug 85. The switch points now being fully reversed, the hand lever 27 is next restored to its depending position. This final movement of the lever, of course, restores the sliding sleeve 22 to its lowermost position, thus reconnecting the star block 19 with the switch actuating shaft. During the movement of the sliding sleeve to its lowermost position, no movement of the forked jaw 78 will take place and the sliding sleeve will remain in its upper position in which it is shown in Fig. 6. The reason for this is that since the tubular member 81 now occupies the position in which the space between the lugs 85 and 87 on this member aligns with the raised projection 99 on the forked jaw 78, the lugs 85 and 8'? will move downwardly past the raised projection 90 without engaging the raised projection, and the height of the raised projection is made sulficiently great so that the tubular membe will not engage the lower surface of the forko until the sleeve has rcache its lowermost posiion. It follows, therefore, that under thes conditions no force will be exerted by the sprin 75 tending to restore the locking devi e to its locking position, and the locking device will reman by gravity in its unlocking position. It should be noted, however, that even though a force were exerted by the spring 75 tending to move the locking plunger to its loc ig position under these conditions, the locking d e would be prevented from moving to its locking position because while the switch points were being moved to their reverse positions, the plunger bolt 94 was moved toward the right, by means of the linkage of which the plunger bolt forms a part. far enough to cause the head of the plunger bolt to engage the end member 60 of the locking device in a position in which the end of the locking plunger is clear of the lock rod. After the hand lever has been restored to its normal depending position, it may if desired, be relocked in this position by again inserting the padlock 51 in the hole 52 in the lug 52.

I will next assume that the switch points have been reversed and that the hand lever 27 is subsequently operated to restore the switch to its normal position in which it is shown in the drawings. Under these conditions, the opera tion of the apparatus will be substantially'the reverse of that just described. It should be pointed out, however, that when the hand lever 27 is lowered to its normal position to reconnect the switch operating shaft 16 with the star block 19 after the movement of the switch points to their normal position has been completed, the tubular member 81 will then have been rotated by the torsion spring 88 to the position in which the lug 85 on the tubular mem her is above the projection 90 on the forked jaw 78, so that as the sliding sleeve 22 moves downwardly, the forked jaw and connecting-ind will be restored to their lowermost positions in which they are shown in. Figs. 2 and 5. As a result, since the lock rod will then occupy the position in which the notches 65 align with the i locking plunger 60 the compressed spring will actuate the crank 66 to restore the locking device 60 to its full locking position. When the locking device has been restored to its full locking position, contact 103-l04 of circuit '1 controller C will again become closed, and if the padlock 51 is then reinserted in the hole 52 in the lug 52, all parts will be restored to their normal positions in which they are shown in the drawings. 40

I will now assume that the parts are in their normal positions, as shown in the drawings, and that a train trails the switch. As the leading wheels of the train roll along the fixed rail 1 and the movable rail 2 the movable rails 2 and 2 are forced over laterally, but before a sufficient force is .developed to overcome the op-' posing force of the biasing devices 32 and 33 and cause the point of the movable rail 2 to move out of engagement with the fixed rail 1, the movable rails. being somewhat resilient, become bent, so that with the usual standard split switch, the tie rod 8 will be moved upwardly, as viewed in Fig.1, three-quarters of an inch or more. This movement of the tie rod 8 acting through the switch basket 100, operating rod 99, bell crank lever 97, link 96,-and plunger bolt 94', moves the locking device 0'0, in opposition to the bias of the spring '75, a sufficient amount to completely withdraw the locking plunger 60 from engagement with the notches 65 in the lock rod L, thus unlocking the switch. As a result, when the leading wheels of the train have reached the position in which a sufficient force is developed to cause the point of the movable rail 2 to move out of engagement with the fixed rail 1, the switch pcintswill be unlocked,

and the points will therefore be forced away from their normal position by the wheels in exactly the same manner as they would be if no facing point lock were provided' The movement of the points away from their normal positions, acts through the operating rod 9 and crank 17, to rotate the shaft 16 in a counter-clockwise direction, thereby rotating the associated concentric members 21, 2'2, 82', 83 and 81, as well as the star block 19, in the same direction. The rotation of the star block 19 actuates the biasing devices 32 and 33 in the manner previously described, so that these biasing devices now tend to constantly restore the switch points to their normal position. The rotation of the star block 19 also actuates the bufiing device 56 which, as was previously pointed out, permits free and unrestricted rotation of the star block in a direction to compress the springs of the biasing devices 32 and 33, but acts to retard movement of the star block by the biasing devices. It will be seen, therefore, that the buffing device 56 will not oppose the movement of the points away from their normal position, but will prevent too rapid movement of the points toward their normal position by the biasing devices 32 and 33, thus preventing the quick return of the switch points between the passage of the successive wheels of the train. After the trailing train has completely passed the switch, however, the displacing force of the wheels will be removed, and the springs of. the biasing devices will then slowly return the switch points to the position which they occupied before the train started to trail the switch. During the return movement of the movable rails there will be no deflection of these rails, and the locking plunger 60 will be moved into engagement with the side of the lock rod L by the spring before the movable rails have reached their full normal position in which the lock rod is in the proper position for the notches 65 therein to receive the locking plunger. As a result, the locking plunger will slide along the side of the lock rod, until the notches 65 move into alignment with the locking plunger, at which time the energy stored in the compressed spring 75 will force the locking plunger to its normal locking position, thus restoring the switch to its normal locked condition. If the notches 65 in the lock rod L should not come into alignment with the locking plunger, a suitable indication of this fact will be given by means of the signals controlled by the contact l03-l64 of circuit controller C. Furthermore, if the linkage connecting the. locking device with the tie rod 8 should get out of adjustment for any reason, so that the locking plunger is moved beyond its normal locking position by the spring 75, an indication of this fact will likewise be given by signals controlled by the contact l03-10i.

It should be particularly pointed out that when the switch points are being trailed by a train in the manner just described, due to the fact that the tubular member 81 is rotated with the shaft during rotation of the shaft away from its normal position, if the switch points are forced open far enough by the wheels of the train to rotate the shaft to its full reverse position, the tubular member 81 will then be rotated to such a position that the space between the lugs 85 and 8'? will align with the raised projec tion 90 on the forked jaw. As a result, if no means were provided to prevent the forked jaw from moving upwardly under these conditions, the spring 75, which is then fully compressed, would cause the forked jawtomove to the position in which the upstanding projection 99 enters the space between the lugs 85 and 87 on the tubular member, as shown in Fig. 6. It follows that, under these conditions, the spring 75 would not be effective to exert its full force to restore the locking device to its normal locking position. With apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention, however, if the shaft 16 is rotated to its full reverse position by a trailing train, the lug 85 will engage the upper surface of the cam dog 91 and will rotate this cam dog to the position in which it is shown in Fig. '7, and when the cam dog has been rotated to this position, it will cooperate with the underside of the lug 85 on the tubular member 81 to prevent the spring from forcing the forked jaw upwardly, thus preventing the undesirable condition just pointed out. When the switch actuating shaft 16 is subsequently restored to its full normal position after the train has completely trailed the switch, the torsion spring 88 will restore the tubular member to t -e position shown and the rotation of this member will cause the cam dog 91 to return to its normal position in which it is shown in Fig. 5.

If a train trails the switch when the switch points are set in their reverse positions, the switch points will then be unlocked, and the apparatus will therefore function in substantially the same mann r as if no locking apparatus were provided. The operation of the apparatus under these conditions is believed. to be apparent from an inspection of the drawings, and it is deemed to be unnecessary therefore to describe it in detail here. It should be noted, however, that under these conditions the raised projection 90 on the forked jaw will occupy the space between the lugs 85 and 87 on the tubular member 81. so that when the shaft 16 is rotated by the movement of the points away from their normal positions, the tubular member will remain stationary. As a result, the torsion spring 88 will become stressed but the stressing of this spring will have no effect on the remainder of the apparatus.

When the switch points are in their normal positions and a train traverses the switch in a facing point direction, there is no lateral thrust on the movable rails corresponding to or commensurate with that which occurs during a trailing movement and what lateral thrust there is will be in a direction to permit the compressed spring 75 to force the locking plunger 60 into the notches 65 in the lockrod L.

It should be particularly pointed out that the collar 82 is so designed that this collar may be secured to the sliding sleeve 22 in any one of four positions spaced 90 apart. It will be apparent, therefore, that by securing this collar to the sleeve 22 in the proper position, and by properly positioning the lug 89 the same parts -may be used for either a right-hand or a lefthand switch layout.

One advantage of switch operating mechanism embodying my invention is that it incorporates in one unit a hand operated switch throwing mechanism, biasing means for biasing the switch points to either of their extreme positions, a buffing device for preventing too rapid movement of the switch points toward a set position; while a train is trailing the switch and after the train has completely trailed the switch, a means for disconnecting the biasing and buffing devices from the switch when it is desired to operate the switch by hand, and locking means for locking the switch in its normal position in such manner that the switch will become automatically unlocked when the mechanism is operated to re-v verse the switch or when a train is trailing the switch.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of railway switch operating apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: i

1. In combination with a railway switch, a manually operable lever for moving the switch between its extreme positions, means for normally biasing the switch to one extreme position and for locking the switch in such extreme position, means controlled by said lever for disconnecting said biasing means from the switch and for unlocking the switch prior to movement of the switch away from said one extreme position by said lever, and means independent of ,said lever controlled means for at times unlocking the switch to permit a train to trail the switch.

2. In combination with a railway switch, a manually operable lever for moving the switch between its extreme positions, means for normally biasing the switch to one extreme position and for locking the switch in such extreme position, means controlled by said lever for disconnecting said biasing means from the switch and for unlocking the switch before the switch can be moved away from said one extreme position by said lever, and means independent of said lever controlled means for at times unlocking the switch to permit a train to trail the switch.

3. In combination with a railway switch, a manually operable lever for moving the switch between its extreme positions, means for normally biasing the switch to one extreme position and for locking the switch in such extreme position, means controlled by said lever for disconnecting said biasing means from the switch and for unlocking the switch before the switch can be moved away from said one extreme position by said lever, and means set into operation by a train approaching the switch in a trailing direction when the switch occupies said one extreme position for releasing said locking means until after the train has completely trailed the switch.

4. In combination with a railway switch, a manually operable lever for moving the switch between its extreme positions, means for nor- 125 mally biasing the switch to one extreme posi tion and for locking the switch in such extreme position, means controlled by said lever for disconnecting said biasing means from the switch and for unlocking the switch prior to movement 130 of the switch away from said one extreme position by said lever, a tie rod connecting the movable rails of the switch at a point approximately halfway between the heel and the point of the switch, and means connected with said tie rod 135 for unlocking the switch when a train trails the switch.

5. In combination with a railway switch, a manually operable lever for moving the switch between its extreme positions, biasing means 140 normally connected with the switch when the switch occupies one extreme position and effective when connected with the switch for yieldably retaining said switch in such exreme position, locking means normally biased to a locking 145 position when the switch occupies said one extreme position and effective when in its locking position for positively locking the switch in said one extreme position, means controlled by said lever for disconnecting said biasing means 150,

from the switch and for withdrawing said looking means from its locking position before said switch can be moved away from said one extreme position by said lever, and means independent of said lever controlled means for at times withdrawing locking means from its locking position to permit a train to trail the switch.

6. In combination with a railway switch, a manually operable lever for moving the switch between extreme positions, biasing means normally connected with the switch when the swi ch occupies one extreme position and efiecconnec ed with the switch for yieldaoly retaining said switch in such extreme position, locking normally biased to a locking position when the switch occupies said one extreme position and efiective when in its locking position for positively locking the switch in said one extreme position, means controlled by said lever for risccnnecting said biasing means from the switch for withdrawing said locking means from its locking position before said switch he moved away from said one extreme position or said lever, and means automatically set into oper @931 by a train approaching the switch in trailing direction for withdrawing locking means from its locking position until alter h train has completely trailed the when the switch occupies said ositio-n andeifective when in its posit-ion positively locking the switch n said ooe position, means controlled by said for disconnecting said biasing from the switch and for withdrawing said locking means from its locking position before l switch can be moved away from said one on by said lever, a tie rod conmovable rails of the switch at a roximately halfway between the heel the point the switch, and means con nected with tie rod for withdrawing said is Tom its locking position when the switch. V

combination a railway switch, a manually operable lever for moving the switch between its extreme positions, i cans normally 'l n he switch when the switch 'es one extreme position for biasing the o to such extreme position and for regula the the return movement of the to one extreme position after it is to a locking position when said said one extreme position and its locking position for positivelylocl-z the switch in said one extreme position, controlled by said lever for disrnentioned means from said for unlocking the switch before said he moved away from said one ex- Ltien by lever, and means mechanj t in approaching the switch di CL-i911 when the switch occupies extreme position for unlocking the tra ng t e switch, locking means norreally switch coooies switch until after the train has completely trailed the switch.

9. In combination with a railway switch, a switch actuating shaft operatively cornected with the switch, manually operable means for actuating said shaft and constantly connected with the shaft, biasing means adapted to be con nected with the shaft when the shaft occupies an extreme position corresponding to one extreme position or" the switch and effective when connected with the shaft for urging the shaft to the extreme position which it then occupies, locking means movable between a locking and an unlocking position and eilective when in its locking position'for locking the switch in said one extreme position, and, means controlled by said manually operable m ans for simultaneously connecting said biasing means with said shaft and for moving said locking means from its unlocking to its locking position.

10. In combination with a railway switch, a switch actuating shaft operatively connected with the switch, manually operable means for actuating said shaft constantly connected with the shaft, biasing means to he connected with the shaft when the shaft occupies an extreme position corresponding to on ex treme position of the switch and eiiective when connected with the shaft for urging the shaft to the extreme position which it then occupies, locking means movable between a locking and an unlocking position and effective who in its locking position for locking the switci in said one extreme position, means controlled by manually operable means for simultaneously connecting said biasing means with said shaft and for moving said locking means from its unlocking to its locking position, and means actuated by a train approaching said switch in a trailing direction who said one extreme position for withdrawing saic locking means from its locking position until after the train has completely tra led the sw tch.

11. In combination with a 'ay er en, a switch actuating shaft opera ively connected with the switch, manually operable means for actuating said shaft constantly connected with the shaft, biasing means adapted to be connected with the shaft when the shaft occupies an extreme position corresponding to one extreme position of the switch and effective when connected with the shaft for urging the shaft the extreme position which it then occupies, locking means movable between a locking and an unlocking position and effective when in'its locking p tion for locking the switch in said one extreme position, means controlled by manually operable means for simultaneously connecting so 1 biasing means with said shaft and for mov said locking means from its unlocking its locking position, a tie rod connecting the movable rails of the switch at a point ha vay he said switch occupies tween the heel and the point of the switch, and

so constructed that when it is connected with said shaft it will permit free movement of said shaft away from the extreme position to which it is biased by the biasing means but that it will etard movement of said shaft toward the position to which it is biased by the biasing means, a locking device for locking the switch in one extreme position movable between a locking and an unlocking position, a manually operable lever rotatable in two planes, means controlled by said lever for connecting said biasing means and said buffing device with, or disconnecting said biasing means and said bufiing device from, said shaft according as said lever is rotated to one extreme position or another in one plane, means controlled by said lever for moving said locking means to its looking or its unlocking position according as said lever is rotated to its one or its other extreme position in said one plane, means responsive to rotation of said lever in the other plane for rotating said shaft, and means independent of said lever controlled means for at times moving said locking device from looking to its unlocking position to permit a train to trail the switch.

13. In combination with a railway switch, a switch actuating shaft operatively connected with the switch, biasing means adapted to be at times connected with said shaft and effective when connected with said shaftfor urging said shaft to the position which it then occupies, a buffing device adapted to be connected with said shaft when biasing means are connected with said shaft, said bufling device being so constructed that when is connected with said shaft it will permit free movement of said shaft away from the extreme position to which it is biased by the biasing means but that it will retard movement of said shaft toward the position to which it is biased by the biasing means, a locking device for locking the switch in one extreme position movable between a locking and an unlocking position, a manually operable lever rotatable in two planes, means contr lled by said lever for connecting said biasing means and said buffing device with, or disconnecting said biasing means and said bufiing device from, said shaft according as said lever is rotated to one extreme position or another in one plane, means controlled by said lever for moving said lockin means to its locking or its unlocking position according as said lever is rotated to its one or its other extreme position in said one plane, means responsive to rotation of said lever in the other plane for rotating said shaft, and means actuated by a train approaching said switch in a trailing direction when said switch occupies said one extreme position for moving said locking device from its looking to its unlocking position until after the train has completely trailed the switch.

l l. In combination with a railway switch, a switch actuating shaft operatively connected with the shaft, biasing means adapted to be at times connected with said shaft and effective when connected with said shaft for urging said shaft to the position which it then occupies, a buiiing device adapted to be connected with said shaft when said biasing means are connected with said shaft, said buffing device being so constructed that when it is connected with said shaft it will permit free movement of said shaft away from the extreme position to which it is biased by the biasing means but that it will retard movement of said shaft extreme position, means responsive to toward the position to which it is biased by the biasing means, a locking device for locking the switch in one extreme position movable between a locking and an unlocking position, a manually operable lever rotatable in two planes, means controlled by said lever for connecting said biasing means and said bufiing device with, or disconnecting said biasing means and said buffing device from, said shaft according as said lever is rotated to one extreme position or another in one plane, means controlled by said lever for moving said locking means to its locking or its unlocking position according as said lever is rotated to its one or its other extreme position in said one plane, means responsive to rotation of said lever in the other plane for rotating said shaft, a tie rod connecting the movable rails of the switch at a point halfway between the heel and the point of the switch, and means connected with said tie rod for withdrawing said locking means from its looking position when a train trails the switch.

15. In combination with a railway switch, a switch actuating shaft operatively connected with the switch, a manually operable lever con-- stantly connected with said shaft and rotatable in two planes, means controlled by said lever and effective when and only when said lever is rotated to one extreme position in one plane for biasing said shaft to an extreme position corresponding to one extreme position of the switch and for locking the switch in said one extreme position, means responsive to rotation of said lever in the other plane for rotating said shaft between the two extreme positions corresponding to the extreme positions of the switch, and means actuated by a train approaching the switch in a trailing direction when the switch is locked in said one extreme position for unlocking the switch until after the train has completely passed the switch.

16. In combination with a railway switch, a switch actuating shaft operatively connected with the switch, a manually operable lever constantly connected with said shaft and rotatable in two plan s, means controlled by said lever and effective when and only when said lever is rotated .to one extreme position in one plane for biasing said shaft to an extreme position corresponding to one extreme position of thel switch and for locking the switch in said. one

rotation of said lever in the other plane for rotating said shaft between the two extreme positions corresponding to the extreme positions of the switch, a tie rod connecting the movable rails of the switch at a point approximately halfway between the heel and the point of the switch, and means connected with said tie rod for automatically unlocking the switch if the switch is locked in said one extreme position when a train trails the switch.

17. In combination, a railway switch, a switch actuating shaft operatively connected with the switch, a manually operable lever constantly connected with said shaft and movable in two planes, means for rotating said shaft between two extreme positions corresponding to the two extreme positions of the switch in response to rotation of said lever in one plane, means effective if said lever is moved to one extreme position in the other plane when said shaft occupies either of its extreme positions for biasing the shaft to the position which it then occupies, a lock rodconnected with the switch points to move therewith and provided with a notch, a locking plunger adapted to align with the notch in said lock rod when and only when said switch occupies one extreme position and movable between a locking position in which said plunger enters the notch in said lock rod and an unlocking position in which said plunger is withdrawn from the notch in said lock rod, means for biasing said locking plunger to its locking position when said leveris moved to said one extreme position in said other plane and for positively moving said plunger to its unlocking position when said lever is moved to another extreme position in said other plane, and other means for at times moving said locking plunger to its unlocking position.

' 18. In combination, a railway switch, a switch actuating shaft operatively connected with the switch, a manually operable lever constantly connected with said shaft and movable in two planes, means for rotating said shaft between two extreme positions corresponding to the two extreme positions of the switch in response to rotation of said lever in one plane, means effective if said lever is moved to one extreme position in the other plane when said shaft occupies either of its extreme positions for biasing the shaft to the position whichit then occupies, a lock rod connected with the switch points to move therewith and provided with a notch, a locking plunger adapted to align with the notch in said lock rod when and only when said switch occupies one extreme position and movable between a locking position in which said plunger enters the notch in said lock rod and an unlocking position in which said plunger is withdrawn from ,the notch in said lock rod, means for biasing said locking plunger to its locking position when said lever is moved to said one extreme position in said other plane and for positively moving said plunger to its unlocking position when said lever is moved to another extreme position in said other plane, and means actuated by a train approaching the switch in a trailing direction when said switch occupies said one extreme position and said locking plunger occupies its locking position for withdrawing said locking plunger from its locking position until after the train has completely trailed the switch.

19. In combination, a railway switch, a switch actuating shaft operatively connected with the switch, a manually operable lever constantly connected with said shaft and movable in two planes, means for rotating said shaft between two extreme positions corresponding to the two extreme positions of the switch in response to rotation of said lever in one plane, means effective if said lever is moved to one extreme position in the other plane when said shaft occupies either of its extreme positions for biasing the shaft to the position which it then occupies, a lock rod connected with the switch points to move therewith and provided with a notch, a locking plunger adapted to align with the notch in said lock red when and only when said switch occupies one extreme position and movable between 'a locking position in which said plunger enters the notch in said lock rod and an unlocking position in which said plunger is withdrawn from the notch in said lock rod, means for biasing said locking plunger to its locking position when said lever is moved to said one extreme position in said other plane and for positively moving said plunger to its unlocking of the switch, and linkage connected between said tie rod and said locking plunger for moving said plunger from its looking to its unlocking position if said plunger occupies its locking position when a train trails the switch.

- 20. In combination with, a railway switch, a switch operating mechanism casing, a switch actuating shaft rotatable in said casing between two extreme positions and operatively connected with said switch for moving said switch between its normal and reverse positions, a manually operable lever rotatable in two planes, means responsive to rotation of said lever in one of said planes for rotating said switch actuating shaft between its two extreme positions, a first member rotatably mounted in said casing, a second member movable on said shaft between two extreme positions in response to rotation of said lever in the other plane and effective for connecting said first member with said switch actuating shaft when and only when one said shaft occupies one or the other of its extreme positions and said second member is moved to one extreme position, means connected with said first member for biasing said first member to one position and for retarding movement of said first member by said biasing means, a lock rod connected with the switch points and provided with a notch, a locking plunger movable into and out of engagement with said notch,

means controlled by said second member for biasing said plunger to the position in which it enters said notch if said second member is moved to said one extreme position when the switch points occupy their normal position and for positively withdrawing said plunger from said notch when said second member is moved to its other extreme position, and means actuated by a traintrailing the switch when the switch points are in their normal positions for withdrawing saidlocking plunger from its looking position until after the train has passed the switch.

21. In combination with a railwayswltch, a switch operating mechanism casing, a star block journalled in said casing, means connected with said star block for biasing said star block to one position and for retarding movement of said star block by said biasing means, a switch actuating shaft journalled in said star block and in said casing and operatively connected with said switch in suchmanner that said switch may be moved between its normal and reverse positions by rotation of said shaft between two extreme positions, a sleeve constrained to rotate with said shaft but slidable along said shaft between a first and a second position, means effective when i said sleeve occupies said first position for connecting said shaft with said star block, a manually operable lever pivotally attached to said shaft and operatively connected with said sleeve,

whereby said sleeve may be moved between its a lower extreme position and having its lower end connected with the other end of said bell crank lever by a pin and slot connection, a spring on said connecting rod for biasing said bell crank lever and said connecting rod to the position in which said pin engages said slot at one end of the slot, the parts being so proportioned that when said connecting rod occupies its lower extreme position saidlocking device will be moved to a lockingffio'sitidfivdue to the bias of said spring but that when said connecting rod is moved to its upper position said locking device will be moved to an unlocking position, a forked jaw straddling said sleeve with some clearance above said c g ag id fie cured to the upper end of said conni t i ng rod, an annular flange secured to sads eeve below said forked jaw and adapted Tto olT ejieite with said forked jaw to move said connecting rod from its lower extreme position to its upper extreme position in response to movement of said sleeve from its first position to its second position, a collar secured to said sleeve above said forked jaw and provided with a hood which encloses said forked jaw and said annular flange, an annular rib formed on the inside of said hood, a tubular member mounted on said sleeve above said jaw within said hood and provided with at least two lugs which cooperate with said rib to hold said tubular member in one longitudinal position on said sleeve, said tubular member being free to rotate both with respect to said sleeve and said hood, a stop on said hood adapted to engage one of said lugs in one position of 'the tubular member relative to the hood, a torsion spring connected with said collar and said tubular member and arranged to bias said tubular member to the position in which said one lug engages said stop, an upstanding projection on said forked jaw provided. with a slot and so designed that said projection will cooperate with the underside of one of the lugs on said tubular member to hold said connecting rod in its lower extreme position whenever said sleeve 00- cupies its first position and said shaft occupies any position but the position corresponding tothe reverse extreme position of the switch but that when said sleeve occupies its first position and said shaft is rotated to the extreme position corresponding to the reverse extreme position of the switch by said hand lever said projection is free to enter the space between the lugs on said tubular member, a cam dog pivotally mounted in said slot and arranged to cooperate with one of the lugs on said tubular member to prevent said projection from entering the space between the lugs on said tubular member when the switch is moved from its normal to its reverse extreme position by a trailing train, a lock rod connected with the switch to move therewith and slidably mounted in the bottom of the casing and provided with a notch, a looking plunger carried by said locking device and adapted to enter the notch in said lock rod when said switch occupies its normal extreme position and said locking device is moved to its locking position, and means actuated by a train trailing the switch when the switch occupies its normal position for moving said locking device from its looking to its unlocking position.

22. In combination with a railway switch, a switch stand for moving the switch between its normal and reverse positions, biasing devices included in said switch stand and effective when said switch is moved to either its normal or its reverse position by said switch stand for biasing the switch to the position which it then occupies, a buffing device included in said switch stand and eiiective for controlling the rate of movement or said switch by said biasing devices, the combination with the aforementioned instrumentalities, of a locking device for at times locking the switch in its normal extreme position, means for biasing said locking device to its locking position when and only when the switch is moved to its normal extreme position by said switch stand, and means actuated by a train trailing the switch when the switch is locked in its normal position for moving said locking device from its locking position to its unlocking position until after the train has completely passed the switch.

' 23. In combination with a railway switch, a switch actuating shaft movable between two extreme positions and operatively connected with the switch for moving the switch between its normal and reverse positions, means effective when said switch is moved to either its normal or its reverse position by said switch actuating shaft for biasing the switch to the position which it then occupies, means efiective when the switch is moved to its normal position by said switch actuating shaft for normally locking the swiich in its normal position, means actuated by a train trailing the switch when the switch is locked in its normal position for actuating said locking means to unlock the switch until after the train has passed the switch, and means controlled by said shaft for preventing said switch from becoming locked in its normal position in the event that the switch is moved to its normal position by a train trailing the switch.

WILLIAM C. MCWHIRTER. 

